Ultimate Outsider Review- easily one of the gems of the upstate. Tons of history from CCC involvement to now. Beautiful and well marked hiking trails. Knowledgable and friendly park rangers. They even have pedal-boats you can take out on the water. Easily worth a visit if you are in the area and want to see the natural beauty the upstate has to offer. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - We finished our Ultimate Outsider challenge here! - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Beautiful park! Plenty of well marked trails, lush green forest and numerous parking lots. Kind hikers, walkers and runners on the trail + plenty to explore. My only issue is WHY are there so much paid staff to issue parking tickets in a state park?!?!? They seemed to be a bit too eager on a beautiful Saturday morning to issue whatever was on those adhesive stickers . Otherwise, well worth the drive! read more

We have lived in Greenville for nearly 30 years, and it used to be a gem. But in the past few years, namely since the hurricane, it has really sunk. The trail around the lake is very difficult: nothing but roots sticking up above hard packed dirt. Trees desperately need maintenance. There are fallen branches all over the place, including the picnic area (watch your heads!). The boat rental has now been outsourced and must be done from your phone using a glitchy app. It is WAY overpriced at $40/hour for that little lake. Life preservers are mildewed and disgusting. This place needs better leadership!! read more

Drove here on a Wednesday mid morning to hike the Sulphur Springs trail. There's a $6 entry fee to enter the park which they clearly put to good use. The park is extremely well-maintained -- great paved roads, excellent trail markings, tons of shelters and picnic areas. There was still some hurricane damage, unfortunately. I parked in the Sulphur Sorings trailhead lot and did the approximately four mile loop. I then visited the park visitor center to get a state parks book and a stamp for Paris Mountain. There was a lake with lots of kids swimming. Overall a great park to visit. I'll definitely be back to hike more trails. read more

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This "lake" is a brown water pond in my opinion and again my opinion not fit for swimming...

Really pretty park with some nice trails. Costs $6 to get in. They have a small gift shop/ranger station and the gentleman who works there was SO kind and helpful. read more

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I enjoyed this hike, but Raven Cliffs Falls I wanted a better view of. Here's what it looks like: https://youtu.be/1TSTwJAGOKM read more

RV camping. We camped in our RV here for a few days in July. Aside from the standard hot and humid weather, the campground had ample shade and even a few miles of hiking and biking trails; though be forewarned there is NO mountain biking allowed on Saturdays. There is a small swimming beach at Lake Placid as well as kayak rentals during the busy season. The RV spots are a little tight to get into and you'll likely need some leveling. The road is windy, eroded in places and narrow, so extra caution needs to be taken in that area. A huge bonus is nearby access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and the quaint town of Greenville. The campground is definitely rustic and the roads need some serious TLC, but that's expected in most State Parks ($) and the roads are abysmal in most places in SC. If you're looking to just chill, mountain bike, hike or an easy drive to Greenville or the Swamp Rabbit Trail for a couple days you've come to the right place read more

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I didn't get to spend as much time here as I wanted but I enjoyed the hiking I did get to do. I will definitely come back again.

Outside the bustling city of Greenville, SC lies in contemplative silence a vast array of trails, trees, winding roads, picnic areas, lakes, and camping sites. Commissioned during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era of the 1930's, Paris Mountain State Park rekindles a time when to leisure in nature was both a necessity and a privilege. And it's all yours for the small price of admission! We (ok, me) made a blunder and showed up a week early for our camping reservations made online, which underscores why I need a retreat. Ouch! The park staff at once went to work to find us a suitable work-around, and shortly thereafter, we were setting up camp for the next 5 days. Paula and the camp ranger, along with camp hosts Mary and her husband Butch--you did well. Ne'er a wrinkle crossed your brow. We appreciate your kindness and understanding! Since the camping areas were laid out in 1970, much has changed in modern camping. Little could they have imagined the gargantuan rigs used for camping today. While some sites accommodate these behemoths, it is better suited for smaller rigs (30' and smaller), or tenting. All the sites have electric and water, but almost none have full hookups for sewer. The entire park is hilly and windy, and caution is needed when meeting another vehicle on curves; otherwise, it's a graceful drive throughout the park. Lots of trails with good markings and a downloadable map that is broken into easy/moderate/hard levels along with mileage. Nice. Need a break before a breakdown occurs? Got the sun just a shining on my "Give 'em a whirl" meter. Vacate here. read more

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Great nature trails and awesome to go for a nature hike. Greenville has such amazing weather that you can enjoy it most of the year. The trails are not too crowded which is nice. It is amazing to go during the fall. I have a lot of fun when I go read more

$6/adult is a bit steep especially if you're only coming to hike (not swimming or camping). But I will say the park is well maintained and we enjoyed the Sulphur Springs Trail. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Dam - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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We love Paris Mountain! It's a super convenient park writhing 15 minutes from our home. That said, we would travel and still enjoy the park! Several offerings, great trails with the ability to hike-in camp, two lake areas, rentals for the main lake and a small swimming beach. Nice picnic areas and kids playground. We usually come do day hikes and picnics, but I also train on the trails for races and fun. Parking can be a pain, but usually at the very top there are some parking spots available. Dropping some photos from various hikes. Note, I'll even hike solo and feel safe. read more

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It was beautiful and there was so much to explore!! Definitely coming here again with the kids! read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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It's beautiful, and in my back yard! I love this place. Do yourself a favor and get a SC state park pass. It's $6 per person, but if you have a park pass the whole car gets in for free. Park passes are $100. Only $50 for seniors. read more

This was our first time to this location and we had a blast. I understand they have to pay the bills but charging for every single person in the car was kind of aggravating. The lady at the gate was very nice though and tried to give us all the reasons why buying a yearly pass would be beneficial. The facilities was kept up clean and the staff in the store was very cordial. We enjoyed geocaching if you have all those things and had quite a bit of fun searching for the items. The only thing I did not care for was busting my behind coming down one of the Hills. Can't blame them for that that's all my fault for not judging the slipperiness of what would be under the leaves LOL. We had a blast and we'll come back again! read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

This park is lovely, but it was quite cold when we visited in February. I'm looking forward to returning when the weather is warmer. The picnic areas, camping facilities, and playgrounds are all well maintained. read more

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Our second stop on our road trip adventure was at #parismountainstatepark outside of Greenville. I won't lie. The entrance fee kind of threw me. I wasn't expecting a $15 dollar fee, but I blame myself for not researching more. We needed a good half way stop and this popped up. The #lakeplacidtrail is a wonderful, family friendly (including small kids!) Trail to burn off the energy before continuing on. The sights were beautiful the leaves were just starting to change. It's a simple one mile walk with just roots and a couple areas of rocks. If ever in the area again, we may visit again but will be looking into the pass for the future to save money! read more

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What I love about this park, and this area, is that it's a nature getaway from the city, and yet you're technically still in Greenville! When you're at Paris Mountain State Park it feels like you are at a far away camping destination deep in the forest. And that's how parks like this should feel! It means you can come here on your day off, or on the weekend and not have to worry about traveling a long distance for the same scenery. There is a beginners trail around lake placid, (there are three other lakes here as well) and there are more strenuous hiking / mountain biking trails further into the park. There are also paved campsites, and some that offer tent pads. And what people may not realize is that Paris mountain is actually a monadnock, which is a mountain that rises out of otherwise flat land. You can swim in a designated area here and there are canoe, kayak, and paddle boat rentals available at lake placid. Want an adventure this weekend? You should check this place out. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Hiking trail - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Everyone's gone here, especially if you'd like to take a nice walk hike in the woods. I do see some kids swimming in the lake there but that's not something I plan to do great place to go in the fall when the leaves turn, but you knew that all ready read more

Very well maintained trail system. If you are fairly active, you should be able to complete the loops in 85-95% of the estimated times. Super nice staff. Would return if in the area. read more

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My family went tent camping the week of April 14th and had a great experience. The bath house was clean, the camp hosts were helpful and fellow campers were all respectful of one another. There were some spacious sites and some that were built off the side of the hill giving the feeling of being right up in the trees. I liked that it was a small loop that the kids could easily ride around on bikes/scooters and not be out of sight for long. It is a mix of tent only and RV capable sites but all have water and electricity making it great for car campers like us. We enjoyed exploring the 3/4 mile Lake Placid loop and played in the creek at another trailhead. The parking lot for the trailhead was full on Saturday so plan accordingly to get a parking spot. The lake swimming area wasn't opened for the season but it looks like a nice place to go when the weather gets hot. It would be a bit of a haul down some tricky stone steps from the parking lot if you had all your bags and lake gear but there's a 15 minute parking area where you could drop off stuff and people who may struggle with the steps. We will definitely be back! read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Looking from site 25 to site 26 - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

Such a great park just a short drive from Downtown Greenville! My husband and I wanted to get some hiking in during our weekend getaway. The trails north of Greenville (Raven Cliff Falls & Rainbow Falls) requires a reservation or had very limited parking - we found this out the hard way. On a whim we decided to hit Paris Mt State Park on the way back to the city and boy am I happy we came across this gem! The Sulphur Spring Trail is ~4.5 mile loop. Some sections were super easy while others got your blood flowing and left ya slightly winded. I highly suggest going clockwise - you'll be going downhill during the hardest parts of the trail! I wouldn't really consider this a very scenic trail, but it was nice to be in the woods and away from civilization - well the best that you can on a heavily trafficked trail. read more

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Serene place. Lovely lake which is open to swimmers in the summer. Four or so trails to choose from. If you go to the top of the mountain, the number of visitors drops. There is a lake full of fish at the top which is a mile from the road I'm told. I wonder if you can spend the night up there in a tent? Not sure. Prob not. Also the original dam falls is not to be missed. read more

We camped here all weekend and LOVED it!!! Lots of trails, a beautiful lake. Wonderful little spots to have a picnic or enjoy sitting on a swing and listen to the water babble on by. It is spring so the leaves aren't out yet, but once the trees fill in the campsites are probably pretty private. And the campground was quiet. The tent pad had quite a few rocks, but it was level. The bathrooms were clean, stocked and had good hot water! The park rangers were friendly & helpful and made staying there easy. We look forward to coming back!! read more

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Lots of great trails here, but the new Sassafras trail is a nice change of pace. I prefer the clockwise route.

This park seems to have a lot to offer! We needed to get back, so we made a quick trek around Lake Placid. Saw the falls near the front of the park and walked across and old bridge that looks to have been recently damaged by a fallen tree. We stopped in the gift shop and made some purchases (to include some Hot Pepper jelly, it is quite tasty!) Inside the gift shop, we saw a map of the park. It's very long and contains more trails and falls. We may be back eventually. read more

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RUN to this park!!! Come early so you have plenty of parking. Bring a picnic and enjoy the lake. Take several hikes that are well maintained and safe. Every family (and pet) friendly. Love!!! read more

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Great park with lots to do. Close to downtown Greenville this park provides lots of recreation opportunities. Playgrounds, picnic areas and Lake Placid are perfect for families with younger kids. Deeper in the park the walk to Mountain Lake is a delight. The trail follows a creek on a gradual slope to a historic dam and small secluded lake. There are lots of longer more adventurous trails for excellent hiking and mountain biking. This is a great natural getaway with something for all nature lovers. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Old valve (house) at Mountain Lake. - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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We visited here a couple of days after a strong storm (hurricane remnants) had moved through. This blew down a lot of trees and knocked power out to the park. Hence some things were closed. However, the trails were still open. The park is located about a 20-minute drive outside of Greenville, so it is one of the closest large parks to the city. We arrived before 10 a.m. and paid the $6 per person entry fee. No maps were available but we stopped at the (closed) visitors' center and took photos of a large display map there. We also did a loop-hike around Lake Placid there as well, which was less than a mile and quite easy (other than climbing over a couple of downed trees). We next drove to the very end of the park road to access another trail. We actually had to park a couple of hundred yards beyond our target, as there were no spaces left at the lot where the trails cross the road. We hiked back and, after finding the Brissy Ridge Trail closed, we opted for an hour's hike on the Sulphur Springs Trail. There were a few downed trees here also. We descended for about 30 minutes and then climbed back up for a bit longer. It was nice and if we'd had more time we might have done the full 3.6-mile loop. If you are in the area and want some easy to moderate trail hiking, this place is a good choice. read more

Paris Mountain State Park is a 1,540-acre (6km2) park located just 5 miles north of Greenville, South Carolina. There are a wide arrary of activies to enjoy at this park including hiking, biking, swimming and picnicking. On this trip to Paris Mountain State Park, we enjoyed the Sulpur Spings trail. The Sulpher Springs trail is a 4.5 moderate to heavily trafficed loop trail offering the chance to see wildlife & greenery. It is moderate hike and one that can be enjoyed by many hiking skill levels. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Sulpher Spings - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Such a great State Park with wonderful hiking trails, plenty of parking, and very helpful employees. Bathrooms are at the office and more scattered around the park. The park was built back when stuff was built to last and the stone office complex is beautiful. Chairs are available so you may sit and just admire the beauty. Pets are allowed on a leash, lots of dogs today and even a black pig who seemed to be having fun. We buy an annual car pass which is a great bargain! read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Paris Mountain dam - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Great park. Good trails Here are.the ways it could be improved Dogs allowed But no areas for dog waste So dog waste is just left laying around Add some waste baskets at least by the high traffic areas please. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - The pup enjoying the trail - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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Great place for a lot of activities. It's approx $5 a person when entering so make sure you have cash on you. We decided to come here for a hike. There are different trails so you can pick which one is best for you. We did a few of them. Trails were clean and overall pretty easy. Nice views too! Highly recommend for hiking! read more

Excellent hiking park. I hiked the Brissy Ridge trail CCW to the Kanuga, to the Fire Tower and back on the Sulphur Springs. A very rewarding hike. The Brissy Ridge trail is not for everyone, at least the portion between the parking lot and the Pippsissewa (marked as yellow with black bars - 'hikers only' on the trail map) - the incline and footing are somewhat challenging for the first half mile or so, what with all the tree roots on the trail. I've not hiked another trail with so many tree roots. I almost turned an ankle several times. Once you're past that, things get easier. The Kanuga, Fire Tower and Sulphur Springs trails along this route are fairly easy. All the trails are quite scenic and quite serene. I could spend a lot of time out here and perhaps will. The Brissy Ridge, Kanuga, Fire Tower and other trials are in the northern part of the park and are accessed either from a combined trailhead with a small parking lot or from a larger lot a bit further up the road, which requires a short hike to the first lot/trailhead. The first lot is too small to accommodate hiker traffic. I was there on a cold weekday and of the nine spots, only one was available when I got there. After the hike, a couple more had opened up but were occupied before I left. So I imagine the other lot gets a lot of use during peak times. The park as a whole is nice. The only ding I'll give it is a lack of clear signage and maps on the road in. At a couple of places, I had to pause to figure out which way to go. Signs directing you to 'Campground X' are useless if you don't have a park map and know where that is. There isn't even a park map at the park entrance. The maps on the trails are great, though, and there are a lot of color-coded marking on trees. You can't get lost. Paris Mountain State Park is one of the better hiking parks I've been too in the southeast. read more

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I would give it 2 stars but I know they are making improvements. At the time of this post, they should have closed the park. There are many downed trees. On the Sulphur Springs trail, there were probably a hundred. Of which I had to go over, under, or through ten of them. Not the safest. Some scenic springs and small falls. The most frustrating was losing sight of the trail as the blazes we difficult to spot with the downed trees. As a result, I walked the last mile on the main road. If you are staying Downtown, this is one of the closest state parks with hiking trails. However, if you are willing to head toward Highway 11 there are more scenic options with a view of the mountains. read more

The admission was $5 a person, so I think that indicates that the price has gone up from $2 a head. No map was offered. Lake Placid at the entrance has a trail that circles the lake, it's less than one mile around. Some cool views and the spillway area creates a waterfall effect. Check my photos! Many mountain bikes out in the parking lots. This would be a great place to have a picnic. It's a nice park like setting next to a lake, complete with well maintained restrooms. The hiking, kinda minimal but OK for a .75 mile trail. We had trouble finding out where we were, no map was available when we arrived on 6/15/14. Shortly after driving past the Lake Placid area at the entrance, we suddenly saw a sign that said "no visitors, campground." So, we did a u-turn and left! Will have to return to see if we can find the rest of the park! I presume we missed the signs, not sure. read more

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Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville is a great state park that has a lot to offer from a wide variety of hiking trails, a lake to swim in, nature and animals, places to have picnics, and much more. This park is beautiful and well maintained and managed throughout. It is good to come here and experience the forest and mountains and get some fresh air and relax and enjoy. I have had a really good experience every time I have been here. read more

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If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of suburbia or urban life, I highly recommend going to Paris Mountain State Park if you are visiting or passing through Greenville, SC. Located about 30 to 35 minutes outside the city, you feel like you have left the fast paced world behind when you come here. This park has many fantastic trails, with my favorite being the one that circles the lake. While it is not a particularly strenuous or long trail, it is a very beautiful one. You really feel the calm and serenity of walking besides the lake, hearing the birds in the background, walking amongst various trees, and finally seeing the waterfall. The walk truly gives you a sense of the majesty of nature and how much the world has to offer us in terms of natural beauty. So, if you're like me and like to feel cool breezes through your hair as you take in the beauty of the great outdoors, be sure to visit this place. It is a great place to see and walk some stress away read more

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Not much to see or do if you are motoring . I understand this is a great hiking location however. We drove through the camping area and were not impressed. Fairly small spaces and not a lot of them- 40 I believe. read more

Paris Mountain State Park - Lakes Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina